Asia-Pacific Aspirations: Perspectives for a Post-2015 Development Agenda

This report, the eighth in a series produced under a tripartite partnership involving ADB, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), comes at a critical juncture when the international community needs one strong final push to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Citizens and leaders of the world are also discussing the shape of a framework for a transformative development agenda beyond 2015. This report identifies areas for accelerated action, emerging challenges, and illustrative regional development priorities for the future.

Post-2015 development agenda

Asia and the Pacific has made good progress toward the MDGs, though the region will still need to make greater efforts if it is to meet some important targets. The post-2015 goals should set a transformative agenda for Asia and the Pacific. Based on the above core principles, this report proposes the following goal areas:

Zero income poverty,

Zero hunger and malnutrition,

Gender equality,

Decent jobs for everyone of working age,

Health for all,

Improved living conditions for all,

Quality education for all,

Liveable cities,

Environmental responsibility and management of natural resources,

Disaster risk reduction,

Accountable and responsive governments, and

Strong development partnerships and reformed global governance.

About this report

In May 2013, the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 development agenda submitted its report to the Secretary-General, marking a watershed in the quest for a sustainable and inclusive development agenda for all. The report reaffirmed that MDGs have been a powerful development framework that has rallied political support and critical resources to address the most abject forms of poverty in the developing countries of the world.

This report presents perspectives from Asia and the Pacific on the Post-2015 development agenda as part of the UN system-wide discussion initiated by the Secretary-General. Given its diversity, massive challenges, and rich endowments, Asia and the Pacific has much to contribute to deliberations on environmentally sustainable economic and social development. The perspectives and aspirations of this region for the Post-2015 development agenda should be of much interest to the global community.

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